Monday, 30 September 2013

The founder of retail clothing giants 'mk one', which was bought by TOPSHOP boss Sir Philip Green and later sold for £55 million, was convicted today of pinching a £17.59 bottle of vitamins.

Bankrupt entrepreneur Mark Gerald Brafman, 59, who now lives off Employment Support Allowance is a two-time shoplifter, having once also stolen groceries from Sainsbury's.

He tried to get away with stealing the vitamins from Holland & Barrett by claiming he was suffering a diabetic attack at the time, but this was dismissed by City of London District Judge Tessa Szagun.

"The CCTV clearly shows you picking this item up and putting it in your pocket and then move to another isle and pick-out a packet of mints and take the cheaper item to the check-out," she told Brafman.

"That is not the activity of a disorientated man as you would have me believe. You knew what you were doing and you were dishonest."

Brafman denied, but was convicted of theft from the store in Kings Mall, Hammersmith on November 29, last year and was fined £110, with £150 costs and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

The father-of-three, who lives in a gated community in Waters Place, Putney, offered to pay at the rate of £5.00 per week.

She told police in a statement: "We get a lot of shoplifters in the store and I observed a white, balding male with glasses, carrying plastic bags.

"He picked-up a bottle of vitamins and then placed it inside his right coat pocket and then took some mints, which he paid for.

"After paying for the mints only the male left the store and I notified Kings Mall security who detained him outside and the vitamins were found in his right coat pocket."

Brafman told the court: "I am a diabetic, Type One, and I suffer from a very brittle type of diabetes. However hard I try to control my sugar levels it seems to have a mind of it's own."

He said he injects himself with two different types of insulin eight to nine times a day, plus takes tablets and was suffering an attack of hypoglycemia when he took the bottle of vitamins.

"I have this very erratic diabetes and these attacks occur very frequently. I really don't know what I am doing and feel I am going to pass out.

"I was really all over the place.

"I felt very unwell and had a horrible taste in my mouth so I bought the mints. I was confused by that stage. I did not know if I was coming or going.

"I have no recollection of taking the vitamins. They are not something I require in any way. I was just very confused and not aware of my actions in any way.

"I think my hypoglycemia got worse in the store."

The court heard Brafman was conditionally discharged in November, 2010 for stealing £67.76 worth of groceries from Sainsbury's.

"This is not the first time you have found yourself before the courts, but I will take into account your limited means," judge Szagun told Brafman, warning him bailiffs would be sent to collect the debt if he did not maintain the payments.

Sunday, 29 September 2013

A
sex-obsessed internet pervert, who raped two ex-girlfriends, is
starting a twenty-year prison sentence.

Steven
Jeanne, 44, of Brent House Road, Homerton, east London was on bail
for raping one woman when the second rape case – which had
previously been dropped by police – was pursued.

Snaresbrook
Crown Court heard when police arrested Jeanne for raping a former
partner in October, last year they seized extreme pornography and
indecent images of children stored on a computer at his address.

He
was bailed and attacked the same victim during a row in March, this
year and was remanded in custody.

Whilst
awaiting trial for those offences, information came to light about
another rape of a woman in Newham which Jeanne had committed in
February 2011.

The
victim, again a former partner of Jeanne's, had made the allegation
to police in February 2012 - a year after the incident took place.

At
the time of the initial investigation, it was deemed there was not
sufficient evidence to proceed with a prosecution.

Officers
reviewed the allegation and, after further investigation, Jeanne was
charged with this rape.

Detective
Constable Kath Watson of the Sexual Exploitation and Child Abuse
Command based at Hackney led the investigation.

She
said: "Steven Jeanne's offending was fuelled by alcohol, drugs
and his obsession with extreme pornography.

“He
manipulated and humiliated his female partners for the duration of
their relationships with him.

“I
am so grateful that they trusted the Police and were able to assist
us in incarcerating a dangerous sexual predator."

Detective
Inspector Patrick Milford, who heads up the Hackney Team
said: "Steven Jeanne is a very dangerous sexual deviant.

“He
preyed on vulnerable women, subjecting them to violent rapes.

“The
victims have shown incredible courage throughout the investigative
process and I would like to thank them for their support throughout
this.”

Thursday, 26 September 2013

An Avon pensioner, accused of
historic sex offences against a young boy forty years ago, appeared
at Croydon Crown Court for the first time this week.Malcolm Stuart, 75, of High
Street, Banwell was bailed until December 4 for a plea and case
management hearing.He has already indicated he will
be denying the charges.Stuart is charged with two counts
of gross indecency against the boy when he was aged twelve and
thirteen years-old between January 1, 1974 and January 1, 1981.He is further charged with four
counts of indecently assaulting the boy during the same period and
committing a further sex act.

Wednesday, 25 September 2013

A bitter BBC technical operations manager, whose contract was cancelled, used the corporations's account to order nearly £8,000 worth of specialist electrical equipment during an act of "revenge" against his manager.

Former BBC News team leader Dominic Di Chiera, 50, claims he sought to blow his boss's budget to embarrass him during staffing cuts, but he ended up being arrested and having his home searched by police.

Di Chiera, who joined the beeb in January, last year after fourteen years at Channel 4, was sentenced yesterday to a twelve-month community order with 200 hours community service work and must pay £1,000 compensation to the BBC.

He ordered a 3D Blu-ray player, LED televisions, a mobile phone, camera drive and other electrical items as his contract neared its end and four items were recovered by police when they searched his matrimonial home in Battersea Bridge Road, Battersea.

Australian-born Di Chiera pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud by false representation, namely fraudulently using a BBC account to make purchase orders totalling £7,773.63p between June 4 and 26.

Prosecutor Miss Louise Burnell told Hammersmith Magistrates' Court: "Mr. Di Chiera was making fraudulent purchase orders for electrical equipment using the BBC account and having many of the items delivered to his home address."

His employment was due to terminate on June 30 and on June 26 his manager, Huw Davies, noticed a suspicious order made on the BBC account.

"It was reported to an investigating manager and the purchase order history revealed Mr. Di Chiera had used the account on behalf of the BBC and many orders were delivered to his home address."

On June 27 the defendant was called in to explain himself.

"He said he was very stressed about his contract coming to an end and said he acted in a silly fashion and admitted items were delivered to his address," explained Miss Burnell.

The police were called and Di Chiera's home was searched the same day and he was later questioned by officers.

"He said he had hidden many of the items within the BBC, but it is a mammoth task to search the building for them and the items have not been recovered."

Di Chiera told the probation service Mr. Davies had put him under huge pressure and he was working sixteen-hour days at the BBC.

He felt whatever he did was not sufficient to satisfy management and said the frauds were an act of "revenge" to make his boss look bad by going over budget.

Di Chiera's lawyer Mr. Juleun Lim told the court: "None of these items were retained by him. He's ordered them and they have been put back into circulation in the BBC stock.

"His motivation was to effect negatively his manager over the budget and make him look bad so that when the budget was reviewed there would be an overspend.

"His manager was treating him very unfairly and putting a tremendous amount of pressure on him and he likens it to being bullied.

"His work was good and when he was told his contract would not be renewed the pressure got to him and to use his words: 'I suffered a mental breakdown.'

"He is sorry he acted in the way that he did and he does wish to make amends.

"He is unemployed and actively seeking work in the same field and has an interview tomorrow."

Bench chairman Mr. Mike Cartwright announced: "This is a serious matter. There is no evidence that these items are back in the stock at the BBC."

Di Chiera was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

He was employed at a variety of BBC sites and has also worked for Channel 4 and BSkyB.

Tuesday, 24 September 2013

A jealous former-jailbird punched
a love-rival, who was dancing with his ex-girlfriend, to the floor of
a packed nightclub and spoiled for a fight when chased on to the fire
escape.Steel erector Kurt Tarbuck, 27, of Honeybourne, Belgrave, Tamworth, Staffordshire had travelled down
to London for the We Are FSTVL and bumped into his ex at the landmark
club the following evening.He was convicted at Croydon
Magistrates' Court yesterday of assaulting Federico Paiato at the
Ministry of Sound, Elephant and Castle, on May 27.Tarbuck had recently been released
from a twelve-month prison sentence imposed on October, last year for
smuggling three taser-like stun guns into Heathrow Airport from
Bangkok.He was fined £150, with £300
costs, ordered to pay Mr. Paiato £125 compensation and a £20 victim
surcharge.The court heard Tarbuck (pictured) approached
his ex of one week, Kelly Wood, just after 11pm as she danced with
and kissed Mr. Paiato.He was seen to suddenly punch the
victim once to the right side of his face, knocking him to the floor,
and as Tarbuck was pursued from the club a member of staff said he
continued to be aggressive on the fire escape.Tarbuck denied the charge and told
the court: “I had come down for a festival the day before in
Upminster and was at the club with a friend and on soft drinks.”Tarbuck claimed he had been dating
Miss Wood for nine months, but ended their relationship a week
earlier, and only approached her because he had heard she was upset
about the break-up.“As I approached to clear the
air they started kissing and I was pretty disappointed that she would
do it in front of me. It was not an appropriate time.“I asked her why she would do
that in front of me and she looked a bit bewildered.“He interrupted and told me to:
'fuck off' and I told him it had nothing to do with him and he
stepped towards me in an aggressive manner.“He was leaning forward as if he
was about to hit me and I hit him first. He had his arms out, fists
clenched, it was menacing.“He was almost in my face and
that is when I threw the punch and he fell to the floor.“He got up and looked angry and
chased me. I went for the fire exit.”Tarbuck denied a prosecution
suggestion that he was in a “jealous rage” or that he had been
staring at his ex for forty-five minutes as she danced with the
victim.However, a staff member confirmed
Tarbuck was the aggressor and the punch came “out of the blue”
without any provocation.

Monday, 23 September 2013

A bogus South African bride reported her sham marriage with a Nigerian student after only receiving £1,000 of her promised £5,000 fee - resulting in both of them being arrested and prosecuted.

Single-mum Bonga Mnisi, 26, who was granted leave to remain in the UK in 2002, married Felix Arifalo, 27, at the Holy Pentecostal Church, Peckham and his temporary spousal residency application was successful.

However, two days before it was due to expire last year he made a false domestic violence complaint, hoping this would result in him being granted permanent leave to remain.

Croydon Crown Court heard the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) had already been tipped-off by Mnisi the marriage was false, with Arifalo insisting it was genuine.

Mnisi, of Hawkesley Road, Birmingham pleaded guilty to doing an act to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law, namely entering into a sham marriage on September 26, 2009.

The first-time offender, who has been housed by her local council, was sentenced today to eight months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and ordered to complete 100 hours community service.

Cleaner Arifalo, of Poplar Place, Thamesmead pleaded guilty to seeking leave to remain in the UK by deception on February 10, last year and was sentenced to ten months imprisonment.

Prosecutor Mr. Guy Russell told the court: "Miss Mnisi claimed she had an attack of conscience when her daughter was three months-old and reported that she had gone through a sham marriage, which kick-started this process.

"She said: 'I put my hands up for committing this crime. I married Felix Arifalo to do a friend a favour.

'Recently he repeatedly made threats to me and said I would lose my right to live in the UK'."

The court heard Arifalo, whose entire immediate family are resident in this country, entered the UK on a two-year student visa, which was extended and he married Mnisi a month before it was due to expire.

"Last year he applied for indefinite leave to remain on the basis he was the victim of domestic violence. That was entirely false," added Mr. Russell.

Mnisi's lawyer Mr. Shahnawaz Khan said: "She could not sustain this fraud against the state and after becoming a mother felt guilty.

"Money was not her motivating factor and she says she never had a relationship with Mr. Arifalo."

Arifalo's lawyer Mr. Shuyeb Muquit told the court: "He maintains that it was a genuine marriage and she left the matrimonial home and became pregnant by someone else."

The defendant suggested his parents went behind his back and agreed the £5,000 fee with his new bride, but only paid her £1,000.

The lawyer described Arifalo's bogus domestic violence claim as a "tick-box" application, adding: "His family are all resident in the UK and he simply panicked."

Recorder Barry Kogan announced: "This is not tick-box. It goes into quite a lot of detail. This was a cynical attempt to gain leave, based on domestic violence.

"The purpose of the marriage was clearly aimed at giving you, Felix Arifalo, the right to remain in this country and for you Bonga Mnisi it was a favour for a friend although you were to be paid five thousand pounds.

"You, Arifalo, then came up with another scheme, the cynical pretence that you were a victim of domestic violence, including a lengthy statement with assertions that were all wholly false."

Saturday, 21 September 2013

A
rapist, who enticed his victim to a hotel on the promise of seeing
'The Saturdays' in concert - plying her with drink and a mystery pill
– has been locked-up for eleven years.

Lloyd
Phillips, 48, of Portland Street, Southampton, Hampshire gave the 24
year-old woman a can of super-strength lager during the car journey,
plus the pill and bag of powder he said was for the concert.

She
later told police things became “hazy” and she suffered
hallucinogenic effects in the vehicle, suffering a fit, requiring
Phillips to need a wheelchair to transport her to a north-west London
hotel room.

Police
eventually traced the Wembley hotel, where the defendant took the
victim on December 16, 2011, from vague details she was able to
recall.

Phillips
picked her up from her Southampton home and encouraged her to consume
the can of 'Crunk' during the journey.

She
recalled parts of the trip and her next memory was waking up in the
hotel room twelve hours later, feeling unwell and suffering injuries.

Phillips
told her they did not go to the concert and instead had consensual
sex.

She
later visited a Hampshire hospital and her complaint was passed onto
the Metropolitan Police's Sapphire Command

Detective
Inspector Jodie Tuff said: "Phillips is clearly a sexual
predator who preyed on a vulnerable female, encouraging her to drink
alcohol to the point where she was incapacitated before carrying out
a sustained sexual attack on her.

“It
is highly likely he has committed further offences therefore I would
ask anyone with information or who wishes to report an offence to
contact 020 8733 3773"

At
Harrow Crown Court Phillips was convicted of two counts of rape;
four counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual
assault.

Friday, 20 September 2013

A man repeatedly
sexually-abused a severely autistic teenage boy, believing he would
not complain or be taken seriously if he ever did, a jury were told today.Christopher Williams, 62, of Selhurst Road, South Norwood denies the claims, insisting the
allegations against him have been fabricated.The complainant says he was aged
between fourteen and sixteen years-old when abused at the hands of
Williams several years ago at the defendant's flat.Williams had pleaded not guilty at
Croydon Crown Court to five counts of sexual activity with a mentally
disordered male between September 10, 2004 and September 11, 2008.“He has been diagnosed with
autistic spectrum disorder and learning difficulties and experiences
high levels of anxiety,” said prosecutor Mr. Mark Gadsen.“Because of his mental disorder
he was not able to give informed consent to the sexual activity that
occurred.“The defendant knew all about
him and his learning difficulties, but says nothing improper ever
happened.”The jury were told Williams had
sex with the boy, touched him intimately and made the complainant
touch him.“He says sexual activity
occurred on a number of occasions and took different forms,” added
Mr. Gadesen.“The defendant took advantage of
him, knowing he had autism and learning difficulties, believing he
would get away with it and that it was unlikely the complainant would
tell anyone or be believed.”In April, 2009 the complainant
reported the allegations to a relative, who informed the police and
Williams was quizzed.“He flatly denied the
allegations. He said the complainant had come to his house three
times, but nothing sexual had occurred.“The defendant says he has made
it up for whatever reason.”The trial continues............

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

A
serving police officer, caught canoodling with a 13 year-old girl he
groomed on the internet and met for park trysts, will be sentenced at
the end of the month.

Andrew
Gouge, 34, who was based within the Met's Territorial Policing was
caught kissing and fondling the teen in public and reported by a
member of the public.

He
pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court (pictured) to meeting a child
following grooming and sexual activity with a child.

Gouge,
of Charing Close, Bromley was arrested on April 24 after he was
spotted with the girl in Orpington.

Inquiries
established that Gouge had first met the victim, who was aged
thirteen years-old at the time, via an internet chatroom.

After
exchanging BBM details they met up on a number of occasions, usually
in public parks, where they would kiss.

Detective
Chief Inspector Pete Thomas, from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation
and Child Abuse Command, said: "Andrew Gouge has shown himself
to be someone who has targeted, groomed and exploited a vulnerable
young child for his own sexual needs.

“His
conduct has caused significant harm and the investigation highlights
the need to remain vigilent to the risks posed by social media and
the internet in order to safeguard children.

“The
Metropolitan Police Service is committed to protecting children and
bringing sexual predators like Gouge to justice."

Commander
Allan Gibson, Directorate of Professional Standards, said: "Gouge
signed up to protect and serve his community; but seriously failed in
that commitment and has caused untold harm to the victim, her family
and his own friends and colleagues.

“He
has tarnished the reputation of both the organisation and his
colleagues.

“All
members of the police service are expected to behave impeccably
whilst on and off duty. Gouge did no such thing."

Monday, 16 September 2013

A fine wines investment broker
funded his own champagne lifestyle with over £25,000 he conned from
clients by claiming he could secure them lucrative auction slots for
their collections at Sotheby's sales.Sammy Rooks, 20, of Randolph Road,
Bromley was employed by Encarta Fine Wines, who handle valuable wine
portfolios for investors, and went behind their back to charge
customers extra fees.He was sentenced to two years
imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to perform 300
hours community service and must obey a six-month night time tagged
curfew.Croydon Crown Court heard he blew
all the money during a busy night life, spending the majority to pay
a huge bar bill at his favourite club.Rooks pleaded guilty to defrauding
Anthony Gambling of £2,740; John Wear of £10,690; Alistair Campbell
of £4,700; David Causton of £4,470 and stealing £3,000 from 80
year-old stroke victim William Jarrett.“The defendant, without
authority, and on his own initiative contacted clients,” said
prosecutor Mr. Hamish Reid. “It all seems to have been spent on bar
bills etc.”One of the victims was told by
Rooks £500 would get him a preferential auction slot for the sale of
his wine collection and gave the details of his own Metro bank
account for payment and made follow-up requests for more money.“All those requests were not
legitimate and the clients were contacted personally by Rooks.“One of the payments was made
directly to a nightclub to pay the defendant's bar bill.”The older victim's money transfer
was highlighted by his concerned son, explained Mr. Reid. “Mr.
Jarrett may have been targeted due to his age and infirmity and no
money was repaid.”Rooks' lawyer told the court his
client has curbed his lifestyle and is determined to repay all of the
money with an initial £2,000 lump sum, followed by payments of £300
per month.Recorder Gregory Mitchell QC said:
“There were a number of offences, a breach of trust and one of the
offences was against a vulnerable victim.“Encarta Wines have lost money
and it has tarnished their reputation.“There are particularly bad
features to this case, however there are factors in your favour,”
the recorder told first-time offender Rooks.“You have shown remorse and wish
to pay off the debt.“You entertained people at
nightclubs and spent large amounts of money on alcohol.”

Saturday, 14 September 2013

A blackmailer, who threatened to stick sexually-explicit images of an internet one-night-stand on local lamp posts and her work colleagues' cars if she didn't pay him £1,000 has been jailed for eighteen months.

Chef Craig Farquhar, 28, told the Tesco's manageress he would have 20,000 copies of intimate pictures she sent him produced and distributed - leaving the young mum "extremely frightened."

Farquhar, of Brighton Road, Purley pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to making an unwarranted demanded for money, with menaces, between April 25 and 30.

Prosecutor Miss Alexandra Boshell told the court Farquhar, who has a three-month old son with his current partner of four years, chatted with the victim on a dating web-site three years ago and they met once for sex.

"It would seem during their brief affair she sent pictures to the defendant's phone of her breasts and vagina.

"He started making demands for money, threatening he would show the pictures and plaster them on every lamp post on her road and every car at her workplace.

"He said he had a friend who owned a printing shop and could have twenty-thousand copies at the end of the day and if she told her current boyfriend he would make sure she went missing.

"She describes herself as being extremely frightened by the messages and was not able to sleep and lost her appetite."

The victim reported Farquhar to police and when arrested he admitted having an "on-off affair" with the woman.

"He said he had no intention of claiming the money and wanted her to leave him alone," explained Miss Boshell. "When told off the effect it had on the complainant he did show some remorse."

Farquhar's lawyer Mr. Derek Barry told the court: "It has had a deep impact on the victim and can be described as wicked and malicious.

"There was no loss to the victim and her face was not on any of the images and the defendant was self-consumed by excess alcohol intake and could be described as stupid."

Recorder Alastair Hammerton rejected the probation service's recommendation of a suspended prison sentence and told Farquhar: "This message caused your victim extreme anxiety and you accepted that you wanted to frighten her in order to leave you alone.

"This was a relatively unsophisticated blackmail, but it was pre-planned and there was a financial motive.

"The courts regard blackmail as a particularly repugnant offence because of the mental anguish caused to the victim."

Angry Farquhar violently kicked the door to the secure dock shouting: "I've got a three-month old son," before he was taken to the cells.

Friday, 13 September 2013

A sex offender is starting a
ten-year sentence after he was jailed at Croydon Crown Court
yesterday.Daniel Cheesman, 32, of Dunley
Drive, New Addington was convicted of offences committed against a
woman at a local address in Central Parade.A large amount of people attended
the court (pictured) to see him receive the lengthy sentence.He was originally charged with
four counts of rape against the unknown adult complainant between May
1 and September 21, last year.

Thursday, 12 September 2013

A bank fraudster, who cashed
£1,000 worth of an 85 year-old woman's stolen pension cheques,
dodged prison with a suspended sentence today.Florist Anna Forrest, 30, of
Mayfair Buildings, Durham Road, Sunderland was visiting her mother in
Croydon when she became involved in the swindle.She was convicted at Croydon
Magistrates' Court of three charges of fraud by false representation,
namely cashing three Department of Work and Pension (DWP) cheques
belonging to a Miss E Casedi on November 7, 2011.The court heard she entered a bank
in the town with a man later charged with fraud offences totalling
£12,000 and convinced staff she was entitled to cash the cheques on
behalf of Miss Casedi, using her own genuine driving licence as proof
of identity.Forrest (pictured) claims she had spent the
afternoon in a local pub with people she did not know very well and
her involvement was limited to one visit to one bank and she received
no financial reward for carrying out the fraud.She says she did not know she was
associating herself with people, who were “working the area” and
involved in a much wider fraud and as unaware of the scale of their
offending.Forrest has been employed as a
florist for nine years – the last six with the same firm – and
the court heard she has made efforts to “move away from her
juvenile behaviour.”Until recently her partner was on
benefits and she was the family's sole breadwinner, supporting her
young child.“We believe these offences are
very serious,” bench chairman Mr. James Philips told Forrest. “It
was an offence involving an eighty-five year-old lady's pension money
and would have caused her a huge amount of distress.“We considered an immediate
custodial sentence to show you how bad these offences were.“You came perilously close to
going straight into custody today.”Forrest was sentenced to twenty
weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, and ordered to
complete 180 hours community service work.She was also ordered to pay £1,002
compensation to the DWP and £300 costs at the rate of £10 per week.